"Fifties, fashion and emerging feminism"...

The words above are that of John French,  born on this day in 1907.

John French was an English fashion photographer.  He was one of the top fashion photographers in the  1950s and 1960s.  His amazing black and white photographs quickly brought him to fame.  He worked with some of the top models of the time.  In postwar London, John French pioneered a new form of fashion photography suited for reproduction in newsprint which involved, where possible, reflected natural light and low contrast.

After his death, in 1966,  an archive of his work was presented to the Victoria and Albert Museum (the world's greatest museum of decorative arts and design) and has been celebrated as part of a major exhibition entitled 'The Golden Age of Couture'.

Here is a collection of just some of his photography...They just really caught my eye so when I saw it was his birthday today I felt the need to write about him...Enjoy!

Marla Scarafia (London 1958)

Ann Gunning (London 1950)

Nicole de la Marge in velvet cap with an ostrich pom pom
(London 1965)

Ann Gunning

Pattie Boyd (London 1960s)

Barbara Miura w/ Madame Crystal rayon handbag
and neck tie (London 1953)

Pat Goddard (London 1953)

John French photograph 1960s

And I think this is one of my faves...